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October 22, 2024 23 mins
In this sizzling episode, we delve into the mysterious past of Jimmy "Sizzlin' Jim" Cooks, a seasoned chef at the Super Awesome Diner. As Jimmy recounts his harrowing experience with fast-moving zombies during his time in the Marines, he hints at the darker truths behind Blind Corp’s involvement in Joiceville’s strange history. But when the conversation shifts to conspiracy theories and hidden secrets, tensions rise. Are Jimmy’s wild claims just the ramblings of a man scarred by loss, or is there more to the zombie nightmare than meets the eye?

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Content Unit 447A, internally labeled Excuse Us, has been written, created, and performed by Rodrigo Pool. Blind Corp approves this message for distribution. By continuing to listen, you consent to all applicable policies, including those you have not yet been informed of.
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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Excuse Us. The podcast appeals back the layers
of a small town life, uncovering the hidden horrors lurking
just beneath the surface of joy Spell, North Carolina, from
the tale of a quaint little diner to the chilling
corporate secrets of Blind Corp. This is in your ordinary
postpacolleptive survival story. No, this is something much darker, much weirder,
much funnier, perhaps th all from the perspective of the

(00:25):
only survivor. You'll dive into a quirky, fragmented recollection of
chaos and growing dread that led to joy Spell's downfall.
Oh and a little bit of warning before we get started.
Excuse Us contains mature content intended for a mature audience,
a strong language, and lets you say, a rather twisted
sense of humor is intended. Little indiscretion is definitely advised.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
All right, Okay, that's good. Welcome back to the joy
of Joyce. We explore the heart and soul of our
beautiful town and the wonderful people who make it what
it is today. I have a very special guest, none
other than the Men the Myth, the Legend, Jimmy Siling

(01:24):
jim Cooks. Everyone. You might know him from the super
awesome Diner. You know that's right, you're a local diner
of a Route seven. Maybe you've tried his legendary omelines.
I mean that's how I met him today. How's it going, Jimmy.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
Hey Jack, thank you for having me. It's quite a
surprise if you asked me. I mean, I wasn't expecting
to do an interview, you.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Know, I mean you're a legend.

Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, all's good here. Always happy to talk about Joey
Spell and you know, thank you. Sure a bit of my.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Journey, absolutely, absolutely so, Jimmy, your hometown favorite, right. I'm
born and raised here in Joyce Spell. People love your
story and how you came after serving in the Marines.
You really built upite a reputation for yourself at the diner.

Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's been a while.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
Ride Joyce Spell has been my home, what I've been
Dinner gave me a place to settle back in after
everything I've been.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
Through, man, and people are dying to here about it.

Speaker 5 (02:35):
Well.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Literally, you mentioned before your military surveys and your time overseas.
A little bird told me that's where you got the
nickname ciilin Jim, care to share that story?

Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, well that's just it in both some hungry marines, Yes,
me and s kill it a bunch of let's call
them uninvited guests. They kind of that don't leave when
you tell them to.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Wow, that that sounds intense.

Speaker 5 (03:11):
It was not a way.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
Something tells me this story has more to it than cooking.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
It wasn't just cooking, Jack, There were other things, things
that followed us back. I know people don't like talking
about it, but I stand it. It's it started for me.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
This this not Mayre nightmare. What do you mean by that?

Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yep?

Speaker 3 (03:41):
I wonder why all these strange things are happening around
joy Spell, particularly why people go missing hot blind court
except shop here open, no no, no, no living.

Speaker 4 (03:55):
Blind things.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
But we can't really get into the line.

Speaker 4 (04:00):
Don't want to talk about with this interesting.

Speaker 6 (04:03):
Jimmy, Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls gather around to
prepare to have our taste butts taking to new hides,
introducing the latest, greatest, most awesome drinks Insatian to ever
hit the shelves. It's hot juice. That's right, folks, Hot juice.

(04:26):
The drink Debt's smoother than the summers breeze and a
box of bunch stronger than the hawks dive.

Speaker 5 (04:33):
Is it soda?

Speaker 7 (04:34):
Is it beer?

Speaker 4 (04:35):
Why?

Speaker 6 (04:36):
It's both the only drink bold enough to combine the
fish and soda with a thrill of a fine refreshing beer.
But maybe we will wait down and wait there's more
now with fifty lish of those besky red chemicals. Blead.

(04:59):
You know well that the ones, you know, the ones,
should grab a bottle and worry less about what you
are drinking and more about how fast you can crack
open another hawk.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
You well, well, I mean, you know, Black Corps done
a lot of great things for joy Spell. Yeah, they
sponsored this the very show in fact, and so I
told you before we recorded and during our emails, helped

(05:33):
bring jobs and develop the area. I mean, let's not
forget about the beautiful park, you know, mother, beautiful park,
the beautiful It used to be not a park, It
used to be a pond and now it's a beautiful park.
They founded it last year.

Speaker 4 (05:46):
Sucked it up. Oh yeah, the Park Show show it's
a park now.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, it's a beautiful park, you know.

Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, they'd killed the flora and fauna that used to
be there, but now it's park. You're right, they're covering
up with it. You know that what's really going on?
Why they cover up the pond. It's not coincidence. And
we got these weird chemicals pills going on. Who do
you the stuff for?

Speaker 4 (06:08):
People?

Speaker 3 (06:09):
So see near the lake at the night, Jim, I
fought things overseas, Jack, I don't doubt it ain't natural.
I mean, so does nightmares. I swear they follow me back.

Speaker 2 (06:20):
I don't doubt for a second.

Speaker 4 (06:22):
But heard about what h a w K initiative.

Speaker 5 (06:30):
For real?

Speaker 2 (06:31):
That's for real initiative. Let's just let's not for real. Jack,
well into some online forum conspiracy. I think we I
think you've been listening to too many late night podcasts,
and Blank Corp. Has been a blessing to the town.
The employee half a joyce. Well, if they're done a

(06:52):
heck of a good.

Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, yeah, good for them. I mean it's people, you
really think that's all?

Speaker 4 (06:59):
What about?

Speaker 3 (07:01):
You don't know what I've seen, Jack or By've all
seen out there right here and Joey spill, people disappearing,
people showing up who aim themselves.

Speaker 2 (07:11):
I mean, that's not that kind of saw.

Speaker 3 (07:13):
Men turn into Monstrous Jackimmy real monster's stuff for nightmares,
the staff for horror movies. Blind Cope's not innocent. They're
behind some dark ship. Motherfucker. The whole operation is fucking twisted.

Speaker 2 (07:30):
Okay, Jim, I'm just step back here.

Speaker 4 (07:33):
You you want here, And I guess I.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
Think we're starting getting a little off topic, you know,
and let's let's just just just regroup.

Speaker 4 (07:45):
People want here, you know. It's one we're saying.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
It's just it's just too much. It's just too much
going on.

Speaker 4 (07:53):
What's going on? Is that on them? Just checking on
the show.

Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, they listened to Oh great, great.

Speaker 4 (08:01):
Great, they got tap of your phone.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
Too, cant me stop and picking up again in a second.

Speaker 4 (08:07):
Sure, all right, that's fine, Yeah, that's fine.

Speaker 6 (08:12):
To feel the rush of hawks wings sword to new
altitudes of flavor, whether you're chilling by the grill or
out in the town or hanging with a fellow.

Speaker 5 (08:22):
Stuff to work.

Speaker 6 (08:24):
You know what we do, You know what we do,
cop Juwe We'll take you places. No ordinary drink can
ha darling? Is that hog juice in your hand? Or
you're just happy? Or fly high? That make no sense,
but I love it, so don't wait, friends, head on
down to your local store and pick up a six

(08:44):
pack of howk Jews, the only drink indors by real
hawks and the fine folks at Blank Corp. Remember there's
a hawk and every bodle, not literally, that would be
awful for animals. We donn't promote animal guilty and say
every updus gets today before it flies off the shelf. Warning,

(09:10):
excessive consumption hawk huice may result in spontaneous excitement, really conversations,
and inexplicable urge to fly. Blindcorp is not responsible for
any hawk related hallucinations.

Speaker 5 (09:23):
Drink responsibly.

Speaker 2 (09:26):
Okay, all right, so if you're just joining in the conversation,
we I am here today with the one and only
Jimmy Cecil Sizling Jimmy, and we're talking about a little
bit about everything against my wishes. So let's take a
step back. I think we're staying off a little bit

(09:47):
topic earlier, so let's keep things positive. Okay, this is
the joy of Joysville, after all, everyone's favorite podcast. I mean,
we have over two hundred down loads just in two years,
so you know, very popular, very popular, and Blindcorp has
a generously sponsored our show because of our you know,

(10:07):
incredible entrepreneurial journalistic integrity, and they might be offering us
a spot on their local broadcasting. Yes, granted we might
be around the early hours of one to three am,
but you know what, and they're forcing me to have
a co host, but you know what, we're driving in stride. Okay, Jimman,

(10:32):
thank you, thank you. So maybe we stick to nice
parts of your story okay, like like your work on
the diner. I hear your omelets are to die best
prom Jack.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, everything's always got to be positive. Yeah, I mean
the real stuff, the real stuff is killing people, is
closed deep and it's town. It's not, it's not you
think they just find things on the goodness of the heart. Yes,
I do, coprowing up some huge there's of cost, out
of control.

Speaker 2 (11:03):
Sometimes when are just the way they are all for
sas Man. All right, Jimmy, let's let's ease up on
the the conspiracy talk. Okay, this is people listen to
it on the way home. You know, they want the
one they want their minds to be none.

Speaker 4 (11:19):
Of they want to hear.

Speaker 2 (11:21):
Excuse me, want me to excuse me. Have you got
a mindful of what we're putting out there. Folks come
here to hear about good things happening in joy Spell,
not all theories about what would you say? Monsters?

Speaker 4 (11:32):
Why washing it?

Speaker 3 (11:33):
I'm making this ship up. No, no, listen, no listen, Jack,
now listen now, I'm making it up.

Speaker 4 (11:39):
Man. People they are too scared speak about.

Speaker 5 (11:41):
Listen.

Speaker 3 (11:42):
But it's all connect missing folks. The strange signs, blind
comes are all the center of it all.

Speaker 4 (11:47):
Man.

Speaker 5 (11:47):
They're playing with their names.

Speaker 4 (11:48):
They shouldn't.

Speaker 3 (11:50):
Only amount of time before before we get more people heard,
give my words, Jack.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
Okay, Jimmy, to stop you right here. I think I
think we're we're done talking about blind Corpse. Like I
said that the show is sponsored by that. We appreciate
the opportunities are brought to Joyce Bill, and I'm sure
our listeners would rather hear about your time at the diner,
not not monsteroop.

Speaker 4 (12:14):
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah.

Speaker 5 (12:17):
They're getting fine.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
Things.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
You're gonna see it yourself when you do. Don't say
I didn't loan you.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
Okay, Well that's all the time we have for today, folks.
Thanks for joining us and Joyce Will Joyce Bill's number
one downloaded podcast outside of Hackey Jackie and Tom's Fiddle's
Good Time in the Barnyard and Tett and Friends. The

(12:47):
big thanks to Jimmy Cooks, Jimmy, Jimmy sicling, jim, I'm
I'm sorry, can we know, We're just for coming in
and sharing some interesting thoughts. Thank you and special thanks
of course of Blanco for making the show possible and
sponsoring our patron. Until next time, Joycevil stays safe and
keep enjoying the beauty of our wonderful town. What the

(13:09):
actual fuck?

Speaker 4 (13:10):
Right, man? I thought, yes, I may talk about some reel. Well,
you know, you know what the thank you.

Speaker 8 (13:22):
Jimmy Cooks wasn't always the laid back, witty chef who
flipped omelets like they were works of art at Joyceville's
super awesome diner, known throughout town as Sizzle and Jim.
Jimmy's culinary journey was one forged in the fires of adversity,
steeped in loss, and shaped by the strange and mysterious
circumstances that seemed to follow him like a shadow. His

(13:45):
story is one that interweaves the horrors of war, personal tragedy,
and a relentless pursuit of the perfect dish. All while
uncovering hidden truths buried beneath the surface of Joyceville's quiet streets.
Born and raised in the small seaside town of Joyceville,
Jimmy had always been drawn to food. Growing up near

(14:08):
the water, he learned early on that life moved in quiet,
unpredictable ways, just like the waves rolling in and out,
full of secrets. His family was tight knit, and every
family gathering was marked by big meals filled with love, laughter,
and lots of butter. As he grew, his passion for

(14:29):
cooking only deepened, eventually leading him into the Marines, where
he served his country while honing his culinary skills cooking
for his fellow soldiers during downtime, the diner was buzzing
with the usual morning chatter, plates clinking, coffee, mugs refilling,
and fresh pancakes wafting through the air. But behind the

(14:50):
kitchen door, Jimmy Sizzlin' Jim Cooks was in his world,
eyes narrowed as he cracked another egg, searching for that
elusive perfect omelet. Hey, Jim, Waitress thumber One called out,
sliding past him, You ever going to tell us how
you got that nickname? Jimmy? Chuckled softly under his breath,

(15:12):
but his hands never stopped moving. The skillet in front
of him sizzled as he tilted it just right, letting
the egg mixture set perfectly before adding his secret blend
of herbs. You really want to.

Speaker 5 (15:25):
Know, y'all, I really want to know, he asked.

Speaker 8 (15:28):
Voice gruff but playful, a mix of amusement and something deeper,
something darker, that lingered just behind his words.

Speaker 5 (15:35):
All right, all right, all right, listen up, listen close.

Speaker 8 (15:42):
Jimmy's voice dropped lower as the memories came flooding back,
sharp and vivid as the crackle of oil in the pan.
It was during my time in the Marines.

Speaker 3 (15:52):
It was during my time with the Marines who were
deployed in this gosh for sake and corner off the world.

Speaker 5 (16:00):
No names, no maps, just orders.

Speaker 3 (16:03):
The place had been hidden with some kind of chemical
attacking before we knew it. Well, we weren't fighting the
usual enemy, the gas. It is something, man, It did
some of these people turn them into.

Speaker 8 (16:20):
He paused, flipping the omelet with the ease of someone
who's done it a thousand times, But the look in
his eyes told of a man who had faced death
and worse zombies.

Speaker 5 (16:31):
Or a lack of better words, zombies.

Speaker 8 (16:35):
He said the word heavy like a curse.

Speaker 5 (16:38):
Fast moving motherfuckers too in hungry.

Speaker 8 (16:43):
Zombies.

Speaker 3 (16:44):
Zombies for real?

Speaker 4 (16:46):
Come on.

Speaker 8 (16:47):
Jimmy's expression didn't change. He stared at the golden browning
edges of the omelet like he was seeing something far
far away.

Speaker 5 (16:55):
I'm joking, we ran out of ammo all that.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
How was my skellet still hot from making the squads
lot smell?

Speaker 8 (17:04):
Still hot from making the squad's last meal? He gave
a half smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Speaker 3 (17:11):
Let's just say I put it to some good es,
knocked out of those things out cold snap some next
heads with it. Man, I never being happier to have
an iron iron SkELL it. That's killy to save my life,
and I saved a whole others without two After that,

(17:31):
they call me cizl and jim the marine who fought
off zombies with a frying pan.

Speaker 8 (17:38):
The marine who fought off zombies with a frying.

Speaker 5 (17:40):
Pan, Well, the motherfucking frying pan.

Speaker 8 (17:43):
Dylan stood there, frozen, unsure if Jimmy was pulling their
leg or telling the truth.

Speaker 5 (17:49):
Yeah right, that's that you're you're you're ridiculous.

Speaker 8 (17:52):
Yeah, that's not that's okay. Come on, I heard about it.
Jimmy didn't argue. He didn't have to. The truth was
always heavier than disbelief. The kitchen was suddenly quieter after that.
The clang of pots and pans dimmed, as if everyone
was processing the weight of his words. But the past

(18:14):
didn't let go that easy. Jimmy had come home to
Joyceville expecting some kind of peace, but instead of finding solace,
he was met with another tragedy. His family, the only
tether he had to this world gone in a single
cruel moment. A car accident had taken them from him,
leaving him adrift with only his skillet and his grief

(18:39):
to keep him company.

Speaker 4 (18:42):
Eh.

Speaker 5 (18:44):
And that's when I opened Cisling Gems.

Speaker 8 (18:46):
Jimmy said, his voice almost too low to hear over
the hum of the kitchen. I needed something to hold
on to, so I cooked poured my soul into it.
People loved it, at least at first. Southern comfort food
with a twist, fried chicken with a hint of tie spice,
shrimp and grits with a smoky paprika sauce. It was

(19:09):
the one thing I had left that made sense.

Speaker 5 (19:12):
I needed a new perspective in life.

Speaker 8 (19:15):
But life had a funny way of kicking a man
when he was down.

Speaker 3 (19:18):
And these motherfucking social media types came around. You all
have the TikTok, motherfuckus. This stock called me the gay
chef off the South like that, like that was all
I was. But T is me to a label and
the question if I was even authentic, if I was original?
They made me look like an asshole? Can you believe

(19:41):
that shit like I wasn't good enough for my own story.

Speaker 8 (19:45):
Jimmy's grip tightened on this batela, his knuckles white for
a brief second before he relaxed and slid the finished
omelet onto a plate.

Speaker 5 (19:53):
It hit my business hard man, he.

Speaker 8 (19:56):
Admitted, staring at the food in front of him as
if it was a reflection of something lost.

Speaker 5 (20:01):
But I kept on cooking, and owls are gonna let
him break me.

Speaker 8 (20:04):
I was nothing, but I kept cooking. I wasn't gonna
let him break.

Speaker 5 (20:09):
Me, but they did. And that's when I'm That's what
Miss d came to my life.

Speaker 8 (20:17):
She found me, he said, his voice warming slightly offered
me a.

Speaker 3 (20:22):
Job at the super Awesome Diner. M I wasn't running
the show no more, Brah, I got to cook again,
and that's what mattered. Missus de saw some in me,
something worth keeping alive.

Speaker 8 (20:37):
The diner had become his new home, and Jimmy, ever
the artist, had found ways to add his own flair
to the established menu. Customers raved about his creations, his
fried green tomatoes with an unexpected kick, his legendary hash
browns that seemed to melt in your mouth. But Jimmy

(20:58):
wasn't just the heart of the kitchen. He was the
heart of the diner. He mentored the younger cooks, shared
his stories, his laughter and even his pain, and every
now and then he'd let them in on a little secret.
But Jimmy's obsession with secrets didn't stop with food. He
had another hobby, digging into the strange and mysterious conspiracy theories,

(21:22):
government cover ups, experiments gone wrong. Joyceville had its fair
share of stories, but Jimmy had a knack for finding
the threads others missed shit.

Speaker 5 (21:31):
You wonder what really happened with blind Corp?

Speaker 8 (21:34):
He asked, the usual spark returning to his eyes.

Speaker 3 (21:38):
They're behind more than just ZMB stuff. You know, some
bigger dak.

Speaker 5 (21:46):
It's down to ain what.

Speaker 8 (21:47):
It seems, something bigger, darker. This town ain't what it seems.
But Waitress number one didn't ask for more. Maybe she
didn't want to know, Maybe she wasn't ready to believe.
Jimmy smirked, knowing better than to push. He served the
omelet and winked.

Speaker 5 (22:03):
One day you'll see on blood. One day you'll see.

Speaker 8 (22:07):
One day you'll see. Because for Jimmy, the truth, like
the perfect omelet, was always just out of reach, waiting
for the right time to be uncovered, and until then
he'd keep on cooking. This episode is made possible by
listeners like you. Visit our website at lifdesign dot net,

(22:31):
forward slash Excuse Us.

Speaker 2 (22:32):
For support or additional information, please visit our website or
paychon page at paytreon dot com.

Speaker 8 (22:39):
Forward slash rot ull Art Tonight's production of Excuse Us,
a mystery drama with delightful undertones of humor and Eldridge.

Speaker 7 (22:48):
Horrors, Produced by Rebecca Lakepool and Rodrigal Pool, Written and
directed and performed by Rodrigo Pool in association with R
and R Side Audio.

Speaker 8 (22:58):
Theater Sound Effects, by Epidemic Sound some other sound effects
who have recorded live on.

Speaker 7 (23:04):
Set voice modulation by eleven Latch.

Speaker 8 (23:08):
If you're enjoying this production, please make sure to review
or subscribe to our show Wherever you listen to your podcast.

Speaker 2 (23:16):
Check out our Patreon page for bonus content.

Speaker 8 (23:19):
Until next time, this is Rodrigo

Speaker 2 (23:22):
Poul saying thank you very much for listening
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